First
three (four) rulers of this dynasty are separated by
K. Kitchen
as protosaite Dynasty XXV. The real capital was at Memphis, but we speak of a Saite Period
to characterize the regime and the culture of the era ruled by kings of XXVI
Dynasty. It was a period of peace and economic prosperity, and of artistic
accomplishments in which innovation was slipped into an archaizing mold. This
Saite renaissance
saw Egypt take its place in a new international alliance, which included not
only recruitment of Greek and Carian hoplites, Jewish auxiliaries, and
Phoenician ship-owners but also maritime activity and exchanges with Greek
cities. Confrontation with the Kushites and the Babylonians led to a lengthy
combat in which the kings were unable to establish a lasting dominion in Asia.
Thanks to their incommensurably superior military force, the Persians would
defeat this house of Sais, but the first of these pharaohs from Iran, who were
proclaimed sons of Neith, would maintain religious forms and resources inherited
from the Saites.To view the transcription of kings titulary properly, please
download and install transliteration font.

a

715 - 695

Ammeris

Ammeris
(Man)

Manetho
ascribes to this ruler 12 years and mentions that his successor was
Stephinates. There is assumed that Ammeris, Manetho’s Ammeris the
Nubian, was Kushite regent constituted by Shabaka after Bokchoris
dismissal.

b

695 - 688

Stephinates

Stephinates
(Man)

According
to Manetho he succeeded Ammeris the Nubian. The prototype of Greek name
of Stephinates might be Egyptian name Tefnakht. Presumably he was a
local vassal under dynasty XXV and according to W. Helck, might have
been the son of Bokchoris.

c

695 - 688

Nekaub

Nechepsos
(Man)

Manetho’s
Nechepsos. Ruler who was supposed to reign 6 years but in
K.
Kitchens
opinion he ruled 16 years. Recognized as local regent of Sais in times
preceding reign of the proper dynasty XXVI.

0

672 - 664

Nekau
I

... ...

... ...

... ...

mn-xpr-ra (?)

nk(A)w , nk(A)w-b(A) (?)
, Nechao
(Man) , Nechepsos
(Man)

mn-xpr-ra
Menkheperre(Established Is The Form Of Re)

nk(A)w
Nekau

Son
of a prince of Sais, Bokchoris. He was one of the princes of the Delta loyal
to Assiria. He gave even an Assirian name to his own son, Psametik.

Son
of Nekau I the prince of Sais. He ruled in Athribis under Assyrian name
Nebushezibanni. After retreat of Assyrians he overtook rule and with
support from Ionian and Karyan mercenaries gained principality over
princes of Delta. He reached with them as far as to Palestine and laid
siege to Ashdod. He managed to annex Central Egypt which was
administered by regents of Heracleopolis
- Padiiset and Sematauiefankh. In 656 he overtook a rule also at
Thebes and thank to diplomatic efforts gained for his daughter Nitocris
a title of divine
adoratrice
of Amun which de facto gave him rule over Upper Egypt. Recently it has
been assumed that Nitocris
became the divine
adorer
of Amun greatly thanks to Sematauiefankh, the prince of Heracleopolis
who gave military support to Psametik.
Military activity of Psametik
in later years focused mainly in Libya and Asia. In response to
increasing power of Media and Babylon Psametik supported Assyria which
was close to its downfall in battles in 616 and 610 BC. Building
activity of this ruler is known from extending
Serapeum in year 52 of his rule and numerous monuments mainly in the
Delta. He died after long reign and was buried at Sais.

2

610 - 594610-595 (Dodson, von Beckerath)

Nekau
II

Hr siA-ib

mAa-xrw

mri-nTrw

wHm-ib-ra nswt-bit wHm-ib-ra

nk(A)w , nk(A)w sA-ra , nqw
,
Nekos
(Man)

wH-ib-ra
WahibrewHm-ib-ra
Wahemibre (Carrying Out The Wish Of Re Forever)

nk(A)w
Nekau

Son
of Psametik I and queen Mehitenusekhet. He supported Assyrians against
Babylonia. In consequence of Syrian expedition commanded personally by
Nekau in 609 BC king of Juda, Josiash had been defeated under Meggido.
In his place Nekau put his son Joakhaz and subsequently – Joiakim, thus
restoring Egyptian supremacy over Palestine. After being defeated by
Babylonian army in renowned battle at Karkemish in 605 BC, army of Nekau
II retreated to Egypt and it was only sudden death of Nabopolassar, the
father of Nabukhodonosor, which saved Egypt from attack. In 601 BC Nekau
repelled Babylanian attack and according to
Herodotus, captured Gaza while pursuing the enemy. He created
Egyptian fleet, built in his order by Corinthian craftsmen. He started
building a canal to connect eastern arm of Nile (north of Bubastis) with
Red Sea. The works had been completed under Darius the Great. It is
believed that he organized trade expedition which for the firs time in
history circumnavigated Africa. This event has been questioned as
historical fact and scarabs of Brussels documenting it have been
probably modern forgery. Nakau II died in May 594 BC leaving the throne
to his son, Psametik II.

Son
of Nekau II and queen Khedebnetiretbinet. During short time of his reign
he had lead expedition against Nubians as documented in stele
inscriptions and by
Herodotus. Results of this expedition are not clear to us. It is
known that in one of the battles great number of Nubians was brought to
death and 4200 of others were captured. It is not known whether the
capital at Napata was conquered. Of Psametik period of rule survived
numerous artifacts, he was decorating buildings with tiny architectonic
accents, lot of edifices he erected himself, lot of them just usurped.
He died in his way back from Phoenicia.

4

589 - 570

Apries

Hr wAH-ib

nb-xpS

swAA-tAwi , sA-ptH mri.f

xaa-ib-ra

wAH-ib-ra ,Uaphres
(Man) , Apries
(Man)

xaa-ib-ra
Khaaibre
(Jubilant Is The Heart Of Re Forever)

wAH-ib-ra Wahibre
(Constant Is The Heart Of Re)

Son
of Psametik II. Energetic and brave ruler. He warred with
Phoenites, captured Sydon and for 13 years laid siege to Thyr. He
supported Jewish uprising against Babylon which ended up with a conflict
with Nabuchodonozor. In 586 BC Jerusalem had been captured by
Babylonians. Under Apries the Jewish community on Elephantine arose. Due
to revolt in his army in 569 BC he lost his function, captured by
Amasis, next handed over to populace and strangled. Another version
tells that Aproes was brought to death in march 22, 569 BC during the
battle of Amasis army with Nabuchodonozor, where he supported probably
Babylonians. According to
Herodotus, Apries was buried by Amasis in the temple-tombs at Sais.

5

570 - 526

Amasis

Hr smn-mAat

sA-nt spd-tAwi

sA-nt-spd-tAwi , stp-nTrw

Xnm-ib-ra

jaH-msi(w) , (sA-nt ,
sA-wsiri) , Amosis
(Man)

Xnm-ib-ra Henemibre
(He Who Embraces The Heart Of Re)

jaH-msi(w)
sA-nt IahmesiSineith(The Moon Was Born ;Son of Neith)

Possibly
related to Apries, father of Psametik III, husband of Tanetkheta.
As a minister of Apries he usurped the rule. He repulsed Babylonian
attack and captured part of Cyprus. Made alliance with Kresus, the king
of Lydia, and with Policrates of Samos. He
married Ladice, a Greek from Cyrene. He favored
Greeks, granted city of Naucratis to Greek
merchants as well as privileges which allowed immense growth of economy
of this polis. He also allowed other Greek settlements and worshipping
places in the s Delta to be founded. One of the documents gives evidence
that in year 41 of Amazis’ rule an expedition to Nubia took place. He
extended Temple of Neith at Sais, erected Sanctuary of Isis (Herodotus)
at Memphis, built temples at Abydos and Mendes, nilometer in the Temple
of Sep and many other structures in Baharija oasis and at Heliopolis. He
was buried in temple complex at Sais. Amasis has
been regarded as one of the six greatest Egyptians legislators and
honored by Greeks with the title of one of the Seven Sages.

Son
of Amasis. Ruled merely several months. Betrayed by one of his allies,
Phanes of Halicarnas, he was defeated at Pelusium by Persians and forced
to retreat to Memphis. The city capitulated after long siege. Now and
again Psametik was trying to incite rebellions,
but was finally executed by Cambyzes.